R.I.P. Dennis 'Machine Gun' Thompson

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

The last surviving original member of the MC5 has passed away.

"Dennis Thompson, whose powerhouse drumming drove the MC5, has died, according to the Detroit Free Press. The MC5 were one of the most aggressive and politically active bands of the 1960s and their driving brand of rock music was a foundation of punk rock, Motorhead and every strain of hard rock that followed.

According to the Free Press, Thompson passed away at MediLodge of Taylor, where he had been rehabilitating following a heart attack in April."

More here:

https://variety.com/2024/music/news/...ad-1235997886/

[BW Haggar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BW Haggar]

Damn, what a terrible week it's been for legendary Midwest rock people.

Word to Thompson also for his sterling work in The New Order / New Race with Ron Asheton et al.

Anyone who has seen the 'True Testimonial' MC5 documentary will recall him as a pretty, uh, intense, amped up kind of fellow - I think he spends pretty much all his screen time yelling directly into the camera, and (if I recall correctly) is waving a gun around at one point.

Incredible to think that, of the entire MC5/Stooges axis, the only man left standing is now Iggy.

RIP, anyway.

[Vincent Dawn Jr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vincent Dawn Jr]

Damn, what a terrible week it's been for legendary Midwest rock people.

Word to Thompson also for his sterling work in The New Order / New Race with Ron Asheton et al.

Anyone who has seen the 'True Testimonial' MC5 documentary will recall him as a pretty, uh, intense, amped up kind of fellow - I think he spends pretty much all his screen time yelling directly into the camera, and (if I recall correctly) is waving a gun around at one point.

Incredible to think that, of the entire MC5/Stooges axis, the only man left standing is now Iggy.

RIP, anyway.

Has that documentary ever been officially released? I did a quick search online, and it doesn't seem available anywhere.

[BW Haggar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BW Haggar]

Has that documentary ever been officially released? I did a quick search online, and it doesn't seem available anywhere.

No, that's right - infamously, it was hit with an injunction just prior to release, and has never been (legally) screened since.

Depressingly, this was not due to anything controversial in its content (it's a pretty standard music doc, tbh), but just due to a bunch of unresolved contractual issues between the band members and the filmmakers, as I understand it.

Copies ripped from promotional DVDs are definitely out there though, in, y'know... the usual places where you'd find such things.

[Vincent Dawn Jr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vincent Dawn Jr]

No, that's right - infamously, it was hit with an injunction just prior to release, and has never been (legally) screened since.

Depressingly, this was not due to anything controversial in its content (it's a pretty standard music doc, tbh), but just due to a bunch of unresolved contractual issues between the band members and the filmmakers, as I understand it.

Copies ripped from promotional DVDs are definitely out there though, in, y'know... the usual places where you'd find such things.

OK, thanks for the clarification. I'll do a little bootleg digging.

Speaking of Iggy, I've always enjoyed the story of his stand-off with John Sinclair-- something to the effect of Sinclair demanding he pledge allegiance to the White Panther Party, so Ig just rolled around on the ground in defiance until Sinclair walked away in disgust. Priceless! Seems like a proper way to deal with the self righteous "revolutionary" types.